Artificial christmas trees



Aug. 20, 1963 M. J. LALICK ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREES I Filed Aug. 12, 1960v 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 Maw! JZZWZZ E v -2 19613 M. J. LALlck 3,101,291

' ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS-TREES File d Aug 12, 1960 v 2 Sheefs-Sheet 2 I IIllll 2a 'y wc/z gel 1 Sa i. J. 3-1- 1 I the usual manner. For the purpose Unite States Filed Aug. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 49,242

Claims. (Cl. 161-24) ate This invention relates to an improvement in artificial Christmas trees land a method of making such trees.

Artificial Christmas-trees of the type; having metallic branches made ofthin, slit-ted aluminum foil, havebeen gaining inpopularity since their introduction on' the market several years ago; The outstanding attractive 'ness; of such trees, dueto tglittering brilliancy, plus the fact that they'mayibe reused year after year, have unf doubtedly contributed to such popularity. However, a

lee

- a e v 2 scope as shown in FIG. 3. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the collars are arranged more closely together toward the lower end of the tree so that the tree will present an over-all uniform foliage distribution'since the angle between each branch and tree trunk progressively increases toward the lower end of the tree. j

Each metal collar includes a cylindrical portion 24 to which are integrally secured threeequi spaced lugs,- .0 r. ears26, as bestseeninFIGS. 4 to 6: inclusive, Each lug 'isstrip-punched to form .a pluralitygof semkcircular straps '28 arranged sorthat the axis thereof intersects the axis of the cylindrical j'por-tion 24, The opening thus formed in each lug 26is adapted to snugly receive one end hasic'dis advantage of such artificial trees has been the 1 danger of electrical shock due to the difiiculty, orimpracticality of grounding all the metal branches. In the tree of the present invention, the problem of providing adequate electrical gounding is solved in a simple and effective manner. In addition, the process for fabricating a j,

tree according to theinvention, lends itsel'fvtomaking trees of various sizes and foliage distribution with the use of the same basiccomponents, thus eliminating the need for a multiplicity of expensivetools, such as dril1-jigs, and simplifying inventory procedures and costs.

The main object of this invention is to provide animprovementin artificial Christmas-trees.

A more specific object of this invention is to providean artificial Christmas tree which may be easily and effectively electrically grounded.

Still another object isito provide :afrnethod for fabricat- 2 ing an artificial treewhe'rein various tree sizes and foliage distribution may be made with the use of the same basic components, thus reducing tooling costs and simplifying inventory procedures and costs. I v

These and furtherobiects and f atures of the-invention will become more apparent from the following descrip tion and accompanying drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is an illustration of an all-metal tr'ee embodying the principles of the f tain elements thereo-f;- H I V .v FIG. 2 is a view of a sectionized treetrunk-used in the artificial tree of FIG. 1; V 3

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section view (broken trunk of FIG. 3;

collar as used on the tree FIG. 5 is a partial SGOUQII: view of the tree trunk; of,

FIG. 2; and 1 FIG. 6 is a side view of the collar of FIG. 4. a Referring .now to the drawings and moreparticul arly metal rod 14 upon which hasibeen wound and secured a mvention and showing in detaileer-j tion. In particular, it will be apparent that the method" sections) of the tree'trunk of FIGIZ inassernbled condi- .tion; v I a FIG. 4' is an enlarged plan view of a branch holding From the foregoing it will lars- 22upon the tree any given size tree.

of a tree branch 12. Each lug 26 is bent along aline 30 to forman angle'relative to the .axis of the cylindrical portion 24. 'While the bend angle of each lug of-a given collar is identicaLt-he angles between the various metal collars 22 difier sothat they become progressively greater upon the collars mounted toward the lower end ofthe" tree, as. heretofore mentioned. The relativerotational position of each collar upon the tree trunk 18 is varied sothat the tree branches 1-2 will be spaced to provide an effect 'of full and uniform tree foliage. For stiffening purposes, a pair of elongated indentations 32may be formed along each bend line 30, as shown. --Each collar is permanently afiixed in its desired position upon the tree trunk by means such as spot welding, swedging, internal expansion of the tree trunk, etc.

A metal end cap 34 is adapted to be press-fitted into the upper end of the tree trunk 18, which cap is arranged to have internal fingers 36 for clasping the end of a metal rod 14 of a branch 12. A metal end capSSi-s arranged for press-fitting into the lowerend of the tree trunk 18, which lower. end cap has an opening 4tl'to receive a centering pin 42 provided on the tree base 20. Aflixed to the lower end of the tree trunk 18 is an electric wire 44 which maybe used 'for electrical invention. 7 p

be seen that the above described tree, and the method for fabricating such an artificial Christmas tree, will satisfy the objectives of the invendisclosed lends itself to the fabrication of trees of various fsizes and shapes i.e., foliage distribution, since all that is h required is a change in number and spacing of the'coltrunk sections 18a and 18b, to make, 1

' 'Ifidesired, one or more additional treev trunk sections; may be inserted between the tree trunk sections 18a and 18b, to rnake taller trees. Con-v versely,.for a shorter tree than the one illustrated,on 1y the section Isa-need be usedwith addition theretoof an end.

cap 38,, It is to be further noted that theears 26 of any Igiven collar, or .setof collars, may be manually bent to 'increase or decrease the angle thereof relative to the tree f trunk, whereby f the tree shape .n ay be' varied in any seej tionor sections, as'desired. Insuch manner a more slenj 'der tree may bemformed, or'a wider tree silhouette made an all-metal tree trunk 18,.

maintaining thetree in' vertical position' during use, in

provided, whichcollars' arearranged{in -predetermined spaced relation upon the tree, trunk sections 181i and 18b.

of removablysecurin'g eachjltree branch ff. 12. to thetree trunk 18, aplur-ality 'of rnet'alcollars -22 are The tree trunk sections 184:? and 18b=areIadapted to'be I ameter of the upper portion 181; so that the par-ts will telepossible,--either of'which maybe effected the tree own'- er ,without the need 'for additional parts or complicated tool' s,;=and in a sir'nple'and rapidmanner.

The foregoing :wi'tho-ut thought of limitation since the inventive principles are -capablefof assuming other forms. without dep'arting I from the spiritfof the invention or scope of ,the followin g .What is claimed is: i v

" 1-." In an'artificial tree having a plurality of metallic branches, a metallic tree trunk,1and means for mounting said-"branches upon said tree trunk comprising, metallic .c' olla.rs which are selectively affixed in axial spaced relation'upon the tree trunk which axial spacing becomes groundin of the allemet-al tree of the f l description .has been-given a detaiIQ progressively less in the direction of the lower endof the tree, said collars each having integral lugs which are adapted to remov ably receive a metallic tree branch, said lugs each being manually bendable about a bend line to varythe angle of the lug relative trunk.

2. In an artificial tree having a plunality of metallic tree branches, a metallic tree trunk, and means for mounting said branches upon .said tree trunk comprising, metallic collars which are selectively affixed in spaced axial relation upon the tree trunk, said collars each having integral lugs which are adapted to removably receive a metallic tree branch, said lugs being bent at an angle tothe axis of the tree trunk, the angle of each lug being the'sar'ne on to the axis of the tree any given collar but differing from the angles of said other collar lugs, said lugs each being manually bendable about a bend'line to vary the angle :of the lug relative to the tree trunle. J l

3. In an antificial tree having a plurality of metallic tree ranches, a hollow metallic tree trunk, and means for mounting said branches upon said tree trunk comprising,

. metallic collars which are selectively atfixed in spaced axial relation upon the tree trunk, said collars each having integral lugs which are adapted to removably receive a metallic tree branch, said lugs being bent upwardly relativeto the tree trunk and at an angle thereto,- the angle of each lug being the same on any given collar, but being arranged so that the angles thereof become progressively greater on the collars going from the top of the tree to the bottom, said lugs being manually bendable about a bend line to changeithe angles thereof;

4. In an artificial tree having a plurality of metallic tree branches, a hollow metallic tree trunk, and means for mounting said branches upon said tree'trunk com-' prising, metallic collars which are selectively affixed in spaced axial relation uponthe tree trunk, said collars each having a cylindrical portion and three integral equiangularly spaced lugs all the lugs of any given collar of which are bent at a uniform angle to the axis of the cylindrical portion, said collars being arranged so that the angles thereof become progressively greater on'the collars going from the top 'of the tree to the bottom, said lugs being manually bendable about a bend line to change the angles thereof.

5. In an artificial tree having a plurality of metallic tree branches, a hollow metallic tree trunk, and means for mounting said bnanches upon said tree trunk comprising, metallic collars which are selectively afiixed -to the tree trunk so that the axial spacing between the collars is progressively smaller from the top 'of the tree to the bottom,

said collars each'having a cylindrical portion and three integral equi-angularly spaced lugs all of which are bent at a uniform angle to the axis of the cylindrical portion, said collars being arranged so 'that the angles thereof be comeprogressively greater on the'coll-ars going from the top of the tree to the bottom, and being further arranged so that the angular arrangement of the lugs of one collar relative the tree trunk differs from the angular relation of adjacent collars relative the tree trunk, said lugs being manually bendable about a bend line to change the angles thereof. i i References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 735,010 Zahl July 28, 1903 904,758 Cropp Nov. 24, 1908 1,223,864 French Apr. 24-, 1917 1,606,535 Hojnowski Nov. 9, 192.6 1,780,181 Fassen Nov. 4, 1930 2,413,610 Donelsonf Dec. 31, 1946 2,708,324- Wedden May 17, 1955 2,751,523 Adams June 19, 1956 2,893,149 Reece et a1. July 7, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS L 82,609 Sweden Feb. v19, 1935 

1. IN AN ARTIFICAL TREE HAVING A PLURALITY OF METALLIC TREE BRANCHES, A METALLIC TREE TRUNK, AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID BRANCHES UPON SAID TREE TRUNK COMPRISING, METALLIC COLLARS WHICH ARE SELECTIVELY AFFIXED IN AXIAL SPACED RELATION UPON THE TREE TRUNK WHICH AXIAL SPACING BECOMES PROGRESSIVELY LESS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LOWER END OF THE TREE, SAID COLLARS EACH HAVING INTEGRAL LUGS WHICH ARE ADAPTED TO REMOVABLY RECEIVE A METALLIC TREE BRANCH, SAID 